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Harvard University President Alan Garber on Monday rejected demands from the Trump administration that threatened $9 billion in research funding, asserting that the government’s proposed changes exceed its lawful authority and infringe on the university’s independence and constitutional rights.
“The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Garber stated in a message to the Harvard community. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
Garber’s response followed a letter from the Trump administration outlining conditions for continued federal funding, including audits of academic programs, changes to governance and hiring practices, and reforms to admissions policies. The $9 billion at stake includes $256 million in research support for Harvard and $8.7 billion in future commitments to the university and affiliated hospitals such as Mass General, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s.
The Trump administration has since announced the freezing of $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard. The administration’s demands centered on allegations that Harvard has failed to uphold civil rights laws and foster an environment conducive to intellectual rigor, citing concerns about ideological capture and antisemitism.
The administration has outlined a series of demands aimed at reforming university policies and operations. Among the proposals are governance and leadership changes that would shift decision-making power toward tenured professors and senior administrators, while limiting the influence of students and non-tenured faculty. The administration is also calling for merit-based hiring and admissions practices that eliminate consideration of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, with oversight through federal audits.
Reforms to international admissions are proposed to include value-based screening and mandatory reporting of conduct violations to federal authorities. Additional measures seek to ensure viewpoint diversity across academic departments, with the possibility of restructuring and targeted faculty hiring. Specific programs, such as the Divinity School and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, would be subject to audits in response to concerns over antisemitism, and faculty found in violation of anti-discrimination standards could face sanctions.
The administration is also demanding the immediate dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Proposed changes to student discipline policies would introduce stricter enforcement, particularly in cases involving alleged antisemitic activity. Lastly, the demands include increased transparency through expanded reporting of foreign funding and strengthened compliance with federal regulations.
The Trump administration has been critical of Harvard’s handling of student protests related to the Gaza war, accusing the university of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination. Garber emphasized Harvard’s commitment to combating antisemitism and outlined campus measures implemented over the past 15 months.
George Q. Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School, stressed the importance of the partnership between the federal government and biomedical research, noting its contribution to life-saving advances.
The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism released a statement reinforcing that federal investment requires universities to uphold civil rights laws, and that the disruption of learning and harassment of Jewish students is unacceptable.
This action follows the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration’s decision to cancel approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to persistent harassment of Jewish students. Columbia University currently holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments.